Drive-chain.



FLL. MORSE.

DRIVE CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1911.

1, 126,254, Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

WITNESSES INVENTOR I w W 3:5" 4% Z 3 MJM ATTORN EY UNETED STATES FAENT @FFECJFZ.

FRANK L. MORSE, OF ITHACA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MORSE CHAIN COMPANY, OF ITHACA NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

icense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

Application filed May 27, 1911. Serial No. 629,911.

To (22 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. Monsn, a citizen of the United States. residing at Ithaca, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York. have invented new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to drive chains. and more particularly to the open link type of chain in which the links are composed of side plates spaced apart to accommodate the sprockets which extend out between the plates and engage a roller or other member surrounding the pintle at each joint.

My present improvement also relates more particularly to chains of this type in which the links are connected at the joints by pintles formed in two parts comprising a seat pin and rocker of the same general character as that described in my prior application, Ser. No. M0335, filed June 27, 1908.

As described in said prior application, the chain is composed of links formed of outside plates and inside plates alternately, and pintles formed in two parts comprising a seat pin and rocker, the seat pins all facing in the same direction and riveted or rigidly fastened at each alternate joint in the outside plates, while the rocker pin is rigidly fastened at the other end of each of the outside plates at the remaining alternate joints.

In this prior construction, the links are adapted to be engaged by the sprockets on the end supporting the rocker pin of the joint in order that the seat pin may turn upon the rocker as the joint bends and be substantially at right angles to the line of pull at all times, thus preventing any slipping of the seat pin across the face of the rocker. Where. however, the chain engages the sprockets of a driven wheel or when the chain is run backward, the seat pin end of some of the links will be supported on the sprockets, and if the joint then bends through an angle greater than the angle of friction between the pintle members, there may be a tendency for the rocker to slip across the face of the scat pin.

The principal object of my present improvement is to provide means for transferring the pressure from the sprocket in such cases directly to the end of the link supporting the rocker and thereby prevent any tendency-of the parts of the joints to slip upon each other.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a part plan and part horizontal section of several links of a chain, embodying one form of my improvement, two of the side plates being broken away to more clearly show the construction; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same mounted on a portion of a sprocket Wheel; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of the chain joints with the side plate separated therefrom and the roller partly cut away to more clearly show the joint construction; Fig. 4, a perspective view of two links showing a slight modification; Fig. 5. a horizontal section of the same; and, Fig. 6, a,

perspective view of a side plate of a link i with the sleeve mounted in the aperture in the end thereof.

According to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1. 2 and 3 of the drawings. I have shown the inside links composed of plates 1 having integral portions 2 extending inward and meeting together at one end of the link, thereby forming a fixed or silent head for spacing the side plates apart and surrounding the pintle parts of the joint for engaging the sprockets of the wheels.

The pintles are preferably formed in two parts comprising a seat pin 5 having a sub stantially plane bearing face, and a rocker pin 6 engaging the seat pin with a rolling contact. both pintle parts extending through apertures at the ends of both the outside plates'3 and the inside plates 1 of adjacent links at each joint.

The walls of the apertures at one end of i A roller 4 may be mounted on the pintle parts between the inside plates for engaging the sprockets and rivet pins 8 may be employed extending through the joint for riveting the outside washers 7 and holding the parts of the chain together.

' T he integral projections 2 formed on the other ends of the inside plates and comprising the fiXed or silent heads for engaging the sprockets also have an aperture which is preferably substantially cylindrical andthrough which pass both parts, the seat pin and rocker, of thepintle, the latter member being adapted to engage and turn with the silent head and inside plates while the seat pin 5 turns freely within the aperture of the silent head 2 and is fitted within the apertures in the outside plates of the adjacent link and turns therewith. These ap ertures in the outside plates are formed to provide sufficient clearance for the free movement of the rocker pins 6 therein which maybe shouldered at their ends if preferred and may also be held in the apertures of the silent heads in any suitable manner if desired. The seat pins may also be shouldered at their ends in the roller joints to give sufficient clearance in the apertures of the outside plates.

As thus far described the construction is substantially the same as that set forth in my prior application above referred to. According to my present improvement, the cylindrical bushing or sleeve. 25, is inserted within the roller, l, surrounding the pintle parts, the ends being shouldered or cut away to clear the inside plates and'tocorrespend with the end of the rocker pin, and with it extend through and be supported in the apertures of the outside plates 3, as clea ly shown in Figs. 1, 3. and 6.

When the chain is running forward. that is from right to left, the sprockets of the driving wheel engage the joints at the right hand side and the rocker part of the-pintle is supported on the sprocket so that the seat pin member turns upon the rocker as the joint bends thereby maintaining the surface of the seat pin at right angles to the lineof pulll and there is no tendency ofthe parts tosl p one upon the other.

lVhere the chain engages with thesprockets of the driven wheel. however. or in case the driving sprocket is reversed, the pressure is then applied at the other side of the joints. the sprockets engaging the rollers at the left hand side which is adjacent to the seat pin member of the pintle. If no means were em loyed for transmitting this stress to the link members supporting the rocker, the seat pin would be supported on the sprocket, and the rocker would turn on the seat p n. as the joint bends in passing on and off the sprocket wheel. In this case, the line of pull which turns with the link carry- 'ing the rocker, would not be perpendicular to the bearing of the surface seat pin, but would be turned at an acute angle thereto, and there would be a tendency for the rocker to slip across the face of the seat pin if the joint was bent to an angle greater than the angle of friction. But with the sleeve, 25. rigidly mounted at its ends in the outside link plates,3,and clearingtheinside link plates, it will be apparent that the pressure from the sprocket at this point will be received by the sleeve, and transmitted to saidlink plates, 3, which carry the rocker pin, 6, thereby eliminating any tendency of the parts of the pintle to slip upon each other.

According to the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the inside links are formed of straight side plates 1, connected by a sleeve 13 on which a roller 4 is mounted. In both this construction and in the joints having the silent heads, the pressure from the sprockets on either side of the joint will be transmitted to the plates of the inside links which support the rocker member of the joint at that end of the link. The other alternate joints of the chain shown in Figs. 4: and 5, are the same as the corresponding joints of the structure shown in Fig. 1, and have the sleeve 25 for transmitting the pressure from the sprocket on the seat pin side of the joint to the link members 3 supporting the rocker as before described.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A drive chain having adjacent links composed of outside plates and inside plates respectively, pintles formed in two parts, one being supported in the outside plates and the other in the inside plates, and means for transmitting the pressure from the sprockets on one side of the joint to the link plates supporting the other part of the pintle.

2. A drive chain having adjacent links composed of outside plates and inside plates respectively, pintles formed in two parts, one being supported in the outside plates and the other in the inside plates, and a sleeve surrounding said pintle parts and supported in the outside link plates.

3. A drive chain having adjacent links composed of outside plates and inside plates respectively, pintles formed in two parts, comprising a seat pin and rocker, the seat pin supported in the inside plates and. the rocker in the outside plates, and means for transmitting the pressure from the sprocket on the seat pin side of the joint to the links supporting the rocker.

i. A drive chain having adjacent links composed of outside plates and inside plates respectively, pintles formed in two parts, the seat pin supported in the inside plates and the rocker in the outside plates, and a sleeve surrounding the pintle parts and supported in the outside plates, and a roller mounted in the outside link plates. on said sleeve. 10 5. A drive chain having adjacent links In testimony whereof I have hereunto set composed of outside plates and inside plates my hand.

respectively, pintles formed in tWo parts, FRANK L. MORSE. one being supported in the outside plates, Witnesses:

and the other in the inside plates, a sleeve D. B. PERRY,

surrounding said pintle parts and supported P. C. COLT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

